Insulated knitted fabric

ABSTRACT

An insulated knitted fabric comprises a single layer or two or more layers, wherein at least the outer layer is composed of fibers having a single filament fineness of 0.2 to 3.0 dtex; at least one layer of the knitted fabric has a stitch density of 45 courses/2.54 cm or above and 45 wales/2.54 cm or above; the air permeability of the knitted fabric is 5 to 50 cc/cm 2 ·sec and the knitted fabric is subjected to water absorptive finish. The knitted fabric is useful as general clothes materials, sport clothes materials or the like requiring high wind-breaking property and water absorbing property.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulated knitted fabrichaving both wind-breaking and water absorbing properties. The insulatedknitted fabric of the present invention is suitably used as generalclothes materials, sport clothes materials or the like requiring highwind-breaking and water absorbing properties.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Knitted fabrics have soft band feeling and excellentstretchability as compared with those of woven fabrics or the like andhave been widely used for general clothes and sport clothes. On theother hand, knitted fabrics have disadvantages of easiness ofventilation with coldness because of higher air permeability than thatof woven fabrics when used as autumn and winter clothing.

[0003] In order to eliminate the disadvantages, several methods havehitherto been proposed so as to enhance the wind-breaking property ofknitted fabrics. For example, there are known methods for coating theback surface of a knitted fabric with a resin, laminating a film ontothe back surface or laminating a high-density woven fabric onto the backsurface of the knitted fabric and raising the wind-breaking property orthe like. Although the wind-breaking property is improved by themethods, there are problems that the sufficient water absorbing propertyis not usually obtained and the skin becomes sticky during perspirationand further hand feeling of the knitted fabric is hard.

[0004] On the other hand, knitted fabrics obtained by knitting waterabsorbing fibers or porous fibers such as cotton are known as theknitted fabrics having the water absorbing property. However, there areproblems that the sufficient wind-breaking property is not obtainedthough the water absorbing property is excellent simply by knittingknown knitted fabrics using the water absorbing fibers or porous fibers.

[0005] For the reasons described above, supply of insulated knittedfabrics having both performances of wind-breaking and water absorbingproperties has been demanded.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an insulatedknitted fabric having both wind-breaking and water absorbing propertiesand excellent comfortableness to wear without greatly changing handfeeling, appearance grade and characteristics of the knitted fabric.

[0007] The object can be achieved by the insulated knitted fabric of thepresent invention.

[0008] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention is aknitted fabric comprising a single layer or two or more layers,characterized in that at least an outer layer is composed of fibershaving a single filament fineness of 0.2 to 3.0 dtex; at least one layerof the knitted fabric has a stitch density of 45 courses/2.54 cm orabove and 45 wales/2.54 cm or above; the air permeability of the knittedfabric is 5 to 50 cc/cm²·sec and the knitted fabric is subjected towater absorptive finish.

[0009] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, thefibers constituting at least the outer layer are preferably a fast-twistcrimped yarn having a percentage of crimp of 3 to 45% for enhancingwind-breaking effects of the knitted fabric.

[0010] The number of layers constituting the insulated knitted fabric ofthe present invention is two and the ratio of (single filament finenessof the fibers constituting the outer layer) to (single filament finenessof the fibers constituting the inner layer) is preferably 1:2 to 1:5from aspects of the water absorbing property.

[0011] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, thestitch density of at least one layer is preferably within the range of50 to 125 courses/2.54 cm and 50 to 80 wales/2.54 cm.

[0012] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, atleast one layer is preferably composed of a highly shrinkable yarnhaving a shrinkage (boiling water) of 8 to 45% from aspects of thewind-breaking property.

[0013] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, atleast one layer is preferably composed of an elastic yarn having anelongation of 200 to 900% and a stretch elastic recovery of 50 to 120%.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present invention, when the insulated knittedfabric of the present invention is subjected to heat treatment such asdyeing, values before the heat treatment are used as values of thepercentage of crimp, elongation, stretch elastic recovery and shrinkage(boiling water).

[0015] At least either one of lateral faces of the insulated knittedfabric of the present invention is preferably subjected to raising.

[0016] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention haspreferably a value within 2 seconds expressed in terms of the waterabsorbing property measured by the dropping test described in JISL-1907.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention comprises asingle layer or two or more layers. In the insulated knitted fabric ofthe present invention, the number of layers is not especially limited;however, two layers of an outer layer and an inner layer or three layersof the outer layer, middle layer and inner layer are preferable fromaspects of imparting diverse functions while maintaining soft handfeeling. In particular, the insulated knitted fabric of the presentinvention has more preferably a two-layer structure of the outer layerand the inner layer from aspects of production cost. The inner layer isa layer located on the innermost side contacting the skin when theinsulated knitted fabric of the present invention is used and the outerlayer is a layer located on the outermost side contacting the open airwhen the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention is used.

[0018] As the kind of the fibers constituting each layer, natural fiberssuch as cotton, silk, hemp or wool, regenerated fibers such is rayon,semisynthetic fibers such as acetate and synthetic fibers such aspolyester, polyamide, polyolefin or polyacrylonitrile can be used. Amongthem, the whole layers are preferably composed of polyester fibers. Thepolyester fibers herein described are composed of polyesters comprisingterephthalic acid as a principal dicarboxylic acid component and atleast one kind of glycol, preferably at least one kind of alkyleneglycol selected from ethylene glycol, trimethylene glycol,tetramethylene glycol and the like as a principal glycol component. Oneor more kinds such as a micropore-forming agent, a cationicdye-dyeability-imparting agent, a discoloration preventing agent, a heatstabilizer, a flame retardant, a fluorescent brightener, a delusteringagent, a colorant, an antistatic agent, a hygroscopic agent, anantimicrobial agent or inorganic fine particles, if necessary, may beadded within the range without deteriorating the object of the presentinvention. The cross-sectional shape of the single filaments of thefibers is not especially limited, and known cross-sectional shapes suchas a circular or a triangular shape can be adopted. The cross-sectionalshape may have a hollow part or may be a conjugated yarn.

[0019] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, it isnecessary that the single filament fineness of the fibers constitutingat least the outer layer (the outer layer is read in a different way asthe single layer when the knitted fabric comprises the single layer; thesame shall apply hereinafter) is within the range of 0.2 to 3.0 dtex(preferably 0.3 to 1.0 dtex). When the single filament fineness iswithin the range, the covering property of stitches is improved toreadily obtain both wind-breaking effects and the excellent waterabsorbing property by capillary actions. When the single filamentfineness is less than 0.2 dtex, it is unfavorable because pilling andsnagging resistances of the knitted fabric are deteriorated though thecovering property of the stitches is improved. On the other hand, whenthe single filament fineness exceeds 3.0 dtex, it is unfavorable becausethe covering property of the stitches is lowered and it is thereforedifficult to impart the wind-breaking property to the knitted fabric.Although the total fineness and filament count of the fibersconstituting the outer layer are not especially limited, the totalfineness is within the range of preferably 30 to 100 dtex (morepreferably 40 to 80 dtex) and the filament count is within the range ofpreferably 30 to 100 (more preferably 35 to 80) in aspects of handfeeling, respectively.

[0020] Further, in the insulated knitted fabric of the presentinvention, it is necessary to keep the stitch density of at least onelayer at 45 courses or above (preferably 50 to 120 courses)/2.54 cm and45 wales or above (preferably 50 to 80 wales)/2.54 cm. When the knittedfabric density is less than 45 courses/2.54 cm or less than 45wales/2.54 cm, it is unfavorable because the sufficient wind-breakingproperty is not obtained. When the knitted fabric density exceeds 120courses/2.54 cm or 80 wales/2.54 cm, there is some fear of deterioratingthe water absorbing property or damaging soft hand feeling because thedensity is too high though the wind-breaking property is obtained. Whenthe insulated knitted fabric of the present invention comprises two ormore layers, it is preferable that the stitch density of the wholelayers is within the range described above and the stitch density(number of courses and number of wales) of each layer is the same.

[0021] It is necessary that the insulated knitted fabric of the presentinvention has an air permeability of 5 to 50 cc/cm²·sec or less(preferably 7 to 40 cc/cm²·sec). When the air permeability exceeds 50cc/cm²·sec, it is unfavorable because the wind-breaking property is low.On the contrary, when the air permeability is less than 5 cc/cm²·sec, itis unfavorable because low air permeability imparts sweatiness or asticky feeling when clothes using the knitted fabric are worn. Theknitted fabric having the air permeability within the range is obtainedby suitably selecting yarn constitution and stitch density, knitting thefibers with a warp knitting machine or a circular knitting machine of 28gauges or more and, if necessary, carrying out dyeing. A known knittingpattern of a warp knitting or a circular knitting pattern can be used asthe knitted fabric pattern without special limitations; however, a halfstitch, a half base stitch, a satin stitch or the like using two reedsor three reeds are preferably exemplified from aspects of thewind-breaking property.

[0022] It is necessary to subject the insulated knitted fabric of thepresent invention to water absorptive finish. The water absorbingproperty which is one of main objects of the present invention isobtained by subjecting the knitted fabric to the water absorptivefinish. Preferred examples of a method for subjecting the knitted fabricto the water absorptive finish include finish of the knitted fabric witha hydrophilizing agent such as a polyethylene glycol diacrylate or itsderivative or a polyethylene terephthalate-polyethylene glycol copolymerin the same bath during dyeing. The pickup of the hydrophilizing agentis preferably within the range of 0.25 to 0.50% by weight based on theweight of the insulated knitted fabric. The water absorbing property ofthe knitted fabric is preferably 2 seconds or below (more preferably 1second or below) measured by the dropping test described in JIS L-1907.

[0023] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, theshape of the fibers constituting each layer may be multifilaments orstaple fibers; however, a false-twist crimped yarn obtained bysubjecting multifilaments to false-twist crimping or a compositetextured yarn prepared by forming the false-twist crimped yarn into acomposite with another filament yarn is preferably used for improvingcovering property of the stitches. Yarns subjected to Taslan texturing,interlacing or twisting may be used. Among them, the fibers constitutingthe outer layer are preferably a false-twist crimped yarn from aspectsof the wind-breaking property. The false-twist crimped yarn ispreferably a false-twist crimped yarn having a percentage of crimp of 3to 45% (especially preferably 10 to 30%). When the percentage of crimpis less than 3%, there is some fear of insufficiently exhibitingcovering effects of the crimped yarn on the stitches. When thepercentage of crimp exceeds 45%, there is a tendency to lower the handfeeling of the knitted fabric. The false-twist crimped yarn can beproduced by a known method. Spindle false twisting, friction disk falsetwisting and belt false twisting can be exemplified as methods forfalse-twist texturing and any methods for false-twist texturing can beselected.

[0024] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention, thesingle filament fineness of the fibers constituting layers other thanthe outer layer can optionally be selected; however, the ratio of(single filament fineness of the fibers constituting the outer layer) to(single filament fineness of the fibers constituting the inner layer) ispreferably 1:2 to 1:5 from aspects of the water absorbing property. Whenthe knitted fabric has a plurality of layers and the ratio of the singlefilament fineness of the fibers constituting the inner and outer layersis kept within the range, it is preferable because sweat exuded from theskin during perspiration is rapidly diffused through the inner layer tothe side of the outer layer to provide excellent sweat-absorbing andquick-drying properties. In the process, the total fineness and filamentcount of the fibers constituting the layers other than the outer layerare not especially limited; however, the total fineness is preferablywithin the range of 30 to 100 dtex (more preferably 32 to 80 dtex) andthe filament count is within the range of preferably 10 to 80 (morepreferably 20 to 50).

[0025] In order to further enhance the wind-breaking property, theknitted fabric is a multilayered structure of two or more layers and atleast one layer of the knitted fabric (more preferably the middle layerand/or the inner layer of the knitted fabric) is preferably composed ofa highly shrinkable polyester filament yarn. Since the elongation of theknitted fabric can be limited and a high density can be maintained bythe construction of the knit, excellent wind-breaking property isobtained. Known yarns are used as the highly shrinkable polyesterfilament yarn and a low-oriented yarn of polyethylene terephthalate or apolyester prepared by copolymerizing ethylene terephthalate as mainrepeating units with 8 to 30 mol % (based on the terephthalic acidcomponent) of a third component is exemplified. Examples of the thirdcomponent used may include bifunctional dicarboxylic acids such asisophthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, adipic acid or sebacicacid, diol compounds or the like such or the like as neopentyl glycol,butanediol, diethylene glycol or propylene glycol. The highly shrinkablepolyester filament yarn having the shrinkage (boiling water) within therange of 8 to 45% is preferably used.

[0026] In the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention,stretchability in addition to the wind-breaking and water absorbingproperties which are main objects of the present invention can beimparted by forming the knitted fabric into a multilayered structure oftwo or more layers, arranging an elastic yarn in at least one layer(preferably the middle layer and/or the inner layer of the knittedfabric) and carrying out knitting. Examples of the elastic yarn includea polyetherester elastic yarn or a polyurethane elastic yarn and, amongthem, an elastic yarn having an elongation of 200 to 900% (morepreferably 500 to 800%) and an elastic recovery of 50 to 98% (morepreferably 70 to 95%) is especially preferably exemplified.

[0027] Further, in the insulated knitted fabric of the presentinvention, insulated effects can be enhanced by carrying out raising onat least either repellent, a heat storage medium, an ultravioletscreening, an antistatic agent, an antimicrobial agent, a deodorant, amothproof agent, a luminous agent, a retro-reflecting agent and the likemay added and applied to the insulated knitted fabric of the presentinvention according to uses and types of usage. As mentioned above, inthe present invention values before heat treatment are used as values ofelongation, percentage of crimp, stretch elastic recovery and shrinkage(boiling water) of the fibers in the present invention when theinsulated knitted fabric of the present invention is subjected to heattreatment such as dyeing or calendering.

EXAMPLES

[0028] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention will beexplained specifically hereafter with examples which are not intended tolimit the present invention at all. Characteristics used in the exampleswere measured as follows.

[0029] (1) Percentage of crimp

[0030] Rewinding was carried out by using a rewinding frame having aframe perimeter of 1.125 m under a load of 49/50 mN×9×total tex (0.1g×total denier) applied thereto at a constant speed to prepare smallhanks having a number of turns of 10. The resulting small hanks wereformed into a twisted double loop shape and applied to a crimp measuringplate and an initial load of 49/2500 mN×20×9×total tex (2 mg×20×20×totaldenier) and a heavy load of 98/50 mN×20×9×total dtex (0.2 g×20×totaldenier) were applied. A hank length L0 was then measured after thepassage of 1 minute. After the measurement, the heavy load wasimmediately removed. After the passage of 1 minute or more, the hank wasintroduced into boiling water while applying the initial load theretoand treated for 30 minutes. After the treatment with boiling water, theinitial load was removed and the hanks were naturally dried in a freestate for 24 hours. After the drying, the small hanks were reapplied tothe crimp measuring plate in the same manner as described above. Theinitial load and heavy load were applied. After the passage of 1 minute,the hank length L1 was measured and the heavy load was immediatelyremoved. The hank length L2 after the passage of 1 minute from the loadremoval was measured to one of lateral faces of the insulated knittedfabric. The raising may be carried out by a conventional method and canbe performed in a step before or after dyeing.

[0031] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention has aweight of preferably 100 g/m² or above (preferably 150 to 300 g/m²)front aspects of the wind-breaking property.

[0032] Not only conventional scouring, weight-reduction finish,preheat-setting treatment, dyeing and final heat-setting treatment butalso other various finishes such as application of functions ofcalendering, a water repellent, a heat storage medium, an ultravioletscreening, an antistatic agent, an antimicrobial agent, a deodorant, amothproof agent, a luminous agent, a retro-reflecting agent and the likemay added and applied to the insulated knitted fabric of the presentinvention according to uses and types of usages. As mentioned above, inthe present invention, values before heat treatment are used as valuesof elongation, percentage of crimp, stretch elastic recovery andshrinkage (boiling water) of the fibers in the present invention whenthe insulated knitted fabric of the present invention is subjected toheat treatment such as dyeing or calendering.

EXAMPLES

[0033] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention will beexplained specifically hereafter with examples which are not intended tolimit the present invention at all. Characteristics used in the exampleswere measured as follows.

[0034] (1) Percentage of Crimp

[0035] Rewinding was carried out by using a rewinding frame having aframe perimeter of 1.125 m under a load of 49/50 mN×9×total tex (0.1g×total denier) applied thereto at a constant speed to prepare smallhanks having a number of turns of 10. The resulting small hanks wereformed into a twisted double loop shape and applied to a crimp measuringplate and an initial load of 49/2500 mN×20×9×total tex (2 mg×20×totaldenier) and a heavy load of 98/50 mN×200×9×total dtex (0.2 g×20×totaldenier) were applied. A hank length L0 was then measured after thepassage of 1 minute. After the measurement, the heavy load wasimmediately removed. After the passage of 1 minute or more, the hank wasintroduced into boiling water while applying the initial load theretoand treated for 30 minutes. After the treatment with boiling water, theinitial load was removed and the hanks were naturally dried in a freestate for 24 hours. After the drying, the small hanks were reapplied tothe crimp measuring plate in the same manner as described above. Theinitial load and heavy load were applied. After the passage of 1 minute,the hank length L1 was measured and the heavy load was immediatelyremoved. The hank length L2 after the passage of 1 minute from the loadremoval was measured to calculate the percentage of crimp according tothe following formula.

Percentage of crimp (%)={(L1−L2)/L0}×100.

[0036] (2) Air Permeability

[0037] Measurement was made by a Frazier permeometer described in JISL-1018 to provide substitute characteristics of the wind-breakingproperty.

[0038] (3) Water Absorbing Property

[0039] Measurement was made by the dropping test described in JISL-1907.

[0040] (4) Elongation

[0041] Measurement was made by the method described in JIS L-1013.

[0042] (5) Elastic Recovery Ratio

[0043] Measurement was made by the method described in JIS L-1013.

Example 1

[0044] A polyethylene terephthalate filament yarn [33 dtex, filamentcount: 12 and shrinkage (boiling water): 10%] was fed to a back reed anda polytethylene terephthalate false-twist crimped yarn (56 dtex,filament count: 72 and percentage of crimp: 20%) was fed to a frontreed. Knitting was carried out at a gauge number of 36 by half stitches(knitting by back: 10/12 and front: 23/10) to provide a warp knittedfabric, which was then fed to a conventional scouring step to afford aknitted fabric (weight: 170 g/m² and stitch density: 95 courses/2.54 cmand 60 wales/2.54 cm in both the outer layer and the inner layer).Furthermore, the resulting knitted fabric was subjected to finish in thesame bath with a hydrophilizing agent (a polyethyleneterephthalate-polyethylene glycol copolymer) in a dyeing step accordingto a conventional method. Thereby, the hydrophilizing agent in an amountof 0.30% by weight based on the weight of the knitted fabric was appliedto the knitted fabric to impart the water absorbing property. As aresult, an insulated knitted fabric was obtained.

Example 2

[0045] A polyethylene terephthalate filament yarn [33 dtex, filamentcount: 12 and shrinkage (boiling water): 10%] was fed to a back reed andpolyethylene terephthalate false-twist crimped yarns (56 dtex, filamentcount: 72 and percentage of crimp: 20%) were fed to a middle reed and afront reed. Knitting was carried out at a gauge number of 28 by halfstitches (knitting by back: 10/12, middle: 23/10 and front: 10/23) toprovide a warp knitted fabric (weight: 220 g/m² and stitch density: 75courses/2.54 cm and 43 wales/2.54 cm in the outer layer, middle layerand inner layer). The knitted fabric was then subjected to finish in thesame bath with a hydrophilizing agent (a polyethyleneterephthalate-polyethylene glycol block copolymer) in a dyeing step.Thereby, the hydrophilizing agent in an amount of 0.30% by weight basedon the weight of the knitted fabric was applied to the knitted fabric toimpart the water absorbing property. After the dyeing, conventionalraising of the back surface of the knitted fabric was carried out toafford an insulated knitted fabric.

Example 3

[0046] Polyethylene terephthalate false-twist crimped yarns (33 dtex,filament count: 36 and percentage of crimp: 20%) were fed to a back anda front reeds and a polyetherester elastic yarn (44 dtex, filamentcount: 1, elongation: 650% and elastic recovery: 85%) was fed to amiddle reed. Knitting was carried out at a gauge number of 28 by satinstitches (knitting by back: 10/12, middle 12/10 and front: 34/10) toafford a warp knitted fabric, which was then fed to a conventionalscouring step to provide a knitted fabric (weight: 259 g/m² and stitchdensity: 103 courses/2.54 cm and 56 wales/2.54 cm in the outer layer themiddle layer and the inner layer). The resulting knitted fabric was thensubjected to finish in the same bath with a hydrophilizing agent (apolyethylene terephthalate-polyethylene glycol copolymer) in a dyeingstep. Thereby, the hydiophilizing agent in an amount of 0.30% by weightbased on the weight of the knitted fabric was applied to the knittedfabric to impart the water absorbing property. As a result, an insulatedknitted fabric wis obtained.

Example 4

[0047] A warp knitted fabric was knitted by using the same yarns andsame pattern as in Example 1, except that only the density was changed.The resulting knitted fabric was fed to a conventional scouring step toafford a knitted fabric (weight: 210 g/cm² and stitch density: 135courses/2.54 cm and 81 wales/2.54 cm in both the outer layer and theinner layer). The knitted fabric was further subjected to finish in thesame bath with a hydrophilizing agent (a polyethyleneterephthalate-polyethylene glycol copolymer) in a dyeing step. Thereby,the hydrophilizing agent in an amount of 0.30% by weight based on theweight of the knitted fabric to the knitted fabric to impart the waterabsorbing property. As a result, an insulated knitted fabric wasobtained.

Comparative Example 1

[0048] A polyethylene terephthalate filament yarn [84 dtex, filamentcount: 24 and shrinkage (boiling water): 10%] was fed to a back reed anda polyethylene terephthalate filament yarn [84 dtex, filament count: 24and shrinkage (boiling water): 10%] was fed to a front reed. Knittingwas carried out at a gauge number of 22 by half stitches (knitting byback: 10/12 and front 23/10) to afford a warp knitted fabric. Theresultant warp knitted fabric was fed to a conventional scouring step toafford a knitted fabric (weight: 170 g/m² and stitch density: 60courses/2.54 cm and 35 wales/2.54 cm in both the outer layer and theinner layer). Furthermore, the knitted fabric was subjected to finish inthe same bath with a hydrophilizing agent (a copolymer of polyethyleneterephthalate-polyethylene glycol). Thereby, the hydrophilizing agent inan amount of 0.30% by weight based on the weight of the knitted fabricwas applied to the knitted fabric to impart the water absorbingproperty. As a result, a knitted fabric was obtained.

[0049] Air permeability as substitute characteristics of thewind-breaking property and water absorbing property of the knittedfabrics obtained in Examples 1, 2 and 3 and Comparative Example 1 wereevaluated. Table 1 shows the obtained results. TABLE 1 Example 1 Example2 Example 3 Example 4 (1) Kind of Knitted Fabric (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)Yarns Used (Outer Layer) KY KY KY KY FY (Middle layer) — KY Elastic — —Yarn (Inner Layer) FY FY KY FY FY Pattern Half Half Base Satin Half HalfStitch (3) (6) 95 75 103 135 60 Density (7) 60 43 56 81 35 (yarns/ (4)(6) — 75 103 — — 2.54 cm) (7) — 43 56 — — (5) (6) 95 75 103 135 60 (7)60 43 56 81 35 Weight (g/m²) 170 220 259 210 170 With or without RaisingWithout With Without Without Without Air Permeability 15 15 35 10 90(cc/cm² · sec) Water Absorbing Property 1.0 1.0 1.0 10.0 1.0 (seconds)

[0050] As can be seen in Table 1, the surfaces of the knitted fabricsaccording to Examples 1 to 3 were covered with fibers having a finesingle filament fineness and the knitted fabric had a prescribed stitchdensity. Therefore, the knitted fabrics having excellent wind-breakingproperty were obtained at a low air permeability and the water absorbingproperty was good. The knitted fabric according to Example 4 hadsomewhat low water absorbing property because of a high density. On theother hand, the knitted fabric in Comparative Example had high airpermeability though the water absorbing property was good.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0051] The insulated knitted fabric of the present invention hasexcellent wind-breaking and water absorbing properties in combination.Therefore, the insulated knitted fabric of the present invention is atextile material suitable for general clothes uses, sport clothes usesor the like requiring high wind-breaking property and water absorbingproperty.

1. An insulated knitted fabric comprising a single layer or two or morelayers, characterized in that at least an outer layer is composed offibers having a single filament fineness of 0.2 to 3.0 dtex; at leastone layer of the knitted fabric has a stitch density of 45 courses/2.54cm or above and 45 wales/2.54 cm or above; the air permeability of theknitted fabric is 5 to 50 cc/cm²·sec and the knitted fabric is subjectedto water absorptive finish.
 2. The insulated knitted fabric according toclaim 1, wherein at least the outer layer is composed of a false-twistcrimped yarn having a percentage of crimp of 3 to 45%.
 3. The insulatedknitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein the stitch density of atleast one layer is 50 to 125 courses/2.54 cm and 50 to 80 wales/2.54 cm.4. The insulated knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein theknitted fabric is composed of the outer layer and the inner layer in aratio of (single filament fineness of the fibers constituting the outerlayer):(single filament fineness of the fibers constituting the innerlayer) is 1:2 to 1:5.
 5. The insulated knitted fabric according to claim1, wherein at least one layer is composed of a highly shrinkable yarnhaving a shrinkage (boiling water) of 8 to 45%.
 6. The insulated knittedfabric according to claim 1, wherein the water absorbing propertymeasured by the dropping test described in JIS L-1907 is 2 seconds orbelow.
 7. The insulated knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein atleast one layer is composed of an elastic yarn having an elongation of200 to 900% and a stretch elastic recovery of 50 to 98%.
 8. Theinsulated knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein at least eitherone of lateral faces of the knitted fabric is subjected to raising.